VERA CRUZ

US, 1954, 95 minutes, Colour.
Gary Cooper, Burt Lancaster, Denise Darcel, Sara Montiel, Ernest Borgnine, Cesar Romero, Charles Bronson, Jack Elam, George Macready.
Directed by Robert Aldrich.

Vera Cruz is an adventure film made by Robert Aldrich. He was at the beginning of his career in the fifties. From then on he was to make a striking body of film work over several decades ranging from the melodramatics of 'The Big Knife' to the horror of 'Whatever Happened to Baby Jane' and 'Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte' to the vigorous melodramas of 'The Legend of Lylah Clare' and 'The Killing of Sister George' as well as the violent films like 'The Dirty Dozen' and 'Choir Boys'. Aldrich's films are very strong and quite distinctive.

Burt Lancaster was to work with Aldrich in 'Apache', 'Ulzana's Raid' and 'Twilight’s Last Gleaming'. Aldrich brings a colourful vigor to this Mexican adventure, filming beautifully on location. The contrast between Gary Cooper and Burt Lancaster as two potential heroes of the West is quite well done. Ordinary material but presented vigorously and entertainingly.


1. How entertaining a colourful adventure, history? The atmosphere of Mexico, of the American West? Entertainment at a popular level?

2. The use of Mexican locations and colour, vide screen, costume melodrama, musical score with the atmosphere of Mexico? How authentic was the presentation of the film?

3. Audience familiarity with the Mexican situation in the mid-19th century: the intervention of France in Mexico's affairs, the role of Maximilian as Emperor, the revolution under Juarez? The American adventurers going to Mexico to join either side for money? The atmosphere of justice and injustice, nationalism, rights? Audience interest in and response to this aspect of American history?

4. The structure of the film focusing on the two men and their en¬counter? The ironies of their initial encounter - with the horse, the pursuit of Mexican soldiers, gun-fighting? The move to help one another in their mercenary work? The masculine cowboy macho image? The developing rivalry even in their friendship? Their work together especially in their decisions to accompany the Countess, in their discovery of the gold, in warding off the ambush? The inevitability of their clash especially in terms of greed and heroism? On the death of the other? How veil did the film present a study in contrasts?

5. Gary Cooper's style and personality as Ben Trane? The loner, strength, age? The background of the Civil War and its loss? The incident with the horse and meeting Erin? The motivation for his action? Nina and her later reappearance? Erin's belief in Maximilian's cause? His skill in escorting the coach? The fascination with the Countess? The way that he was able to handle Erin's men right from the beginning in the saloon and throughout the journey? His skill in the fighting? Was it inevitable that he should win? A portrait of the loner American hero of the West?

6. The contrast with Burt Lancaster's vigorous Erin? His smile, flashing teeth, acrobatics? Stealing the horse, skill with the gun? Friendship with Trane and saving him from his men? The adventurer and his motivation for joining the Emperor's mission? His eagerness for the gold? Fascination with the Countess? Control over his men, skill in the fighting and the ambush? The motivation of greed and his becoming the villain? How inevitable vas his death?

7. The portrait of Erin's men - the cross-section of adventurers in Mexico? Their suspicions of Trane, eagerness for a fight, greed? The masculine image of the men of the West?

8. The Marquis and the Mexican Grandee? His control over tbftnen, his designs on the gold, relationship with the Countess? His work
with the Emperor Maximilian? How well presented was Maximilian and the justice of his presence in Mexico? His scheming to get the gold transported?

9. The Countess and her fascination and charm? The revelation of her greed and her plotting? The elegance of her presence at Court, the irony of her not getting the gold and being left alone at the end?

10. The presentation of the Juaristas? General Aguilar and his control over the men? The justice of the cause, the oppression by Maximilian and the French, the need for revolution? The ambushes, the fighting? The help of the gold? The device of having Nina present to get the gold? The irony that Trane would accede to Nina's request and help the revolutionaries?

11.The importance of the action sequences punctuating the plot? the gun challenges with the two heroes, the fights amongst Erin's men, the Mexican ambushes, the battles, the final gun-fight?

12. The traditional values of right and wrong, good and evil in the Vest? Mexico and justice? The cowboys, the adventurers, their moti¬vations, purpose of their lives, heroism and evil?